McDonough Bank Robbery

Police are searching for a man they say robbed a McDonough bank dressed like an old woman Monday afternoon.

Police said that a man wearing a floral dress, a white wig and orange latex gloves walked into a Chase bank on Jonesboro road and presented a note demanding money.

The man told the teller that he had a gun.

The teller handed over a sum of cash, and the man left the bank and sped away in a small, newer-model white SUV with no tag. Police said the vehicle may have been a Lexus.

The robber was described as a Black man who was approximately six feet tall. He was wearing a black mask or neck gaiter.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact Det. W. Poss at 470-878-1091, by email at wposs@mcdonoughga.org or call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477 to remain anonymous.

Two Juveniles from Newnan Facing Multiple Charges Following High Speed Chase In Thomaston

Two male juveniles from Newnan GA are facing multiple charges in juvenile court after leading Upson SO and Thomaston PD chase early Sunday morning while driving 4 Wheelers. 

 

According to Sheriff Dan Kilgore, around 4:00 AM deputy Justin Shaw was on patrol and he noticed the two 4 Wheelers that were traveling down Hwy 19 near the Ford dealership, It was later determined that the two juveniles on the 4 Wheelers had ridden them from the Po Biddy road area up to the Waffle House to have breakfast,  as deputy Shaw attempted to stop the 4 Wheelers, one fled, the other pulled over near Zaxby’s.  The one who fled continued down Hwy 19 through Thomaston, ran every red light on the courthouse square and proceeded on down Hwy 19, then turned on Indian trail, which is the old highway 19 S, and fled down an embankment. At that point the deputy stopped the chase due to the dangerous nature. 

 

The SO was able to identify the rider who got away and contacted his parents who brought him to the Sheriff's Office and turned him over to deputies.

 

Both juveniles face charges, The one who fled is charged with multiple charges including fleeing and attempting to elude, the one who stopped was charged with operating an unlawful vehicle on the roadway

Thomaston PD Investigating Fraudulent Check Scheme

Thomaston PD investigating multiple forged checks from SHJ Construction Group at 115 E. Main St.

Several Certified checks totaling 118,497.00 were cashed in Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia. All locations where the company has crew’s working.

 

SHJ Construction Group uses Wells Fargo Bank and the checks appear to be printed off with signatures of two employees of the company.

URMC Visitation Level Elevated

 

Lamar County Commissioners Agenda

Regular Meeting
Courthouse

July 19, 2022, 7:00 PM

Regular Business Meeting

11. 2022 Mutual Aid Agreement by and between the Fire Departments and the Lamar County Fire and Rescue

    1. Spalding County Fire Department

    2. Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital EMS

12. Three Rivers Regional Transit Agreement for July 1, 2022-June 30th, 2023

i. Three Rivers Regional Transit Agreement for FY July 1, 2022-June 30th, 2023 13. American Rescue Plan ACT ( ARPA) Budget

i. American Rescue Plan ACT ( ARPA) Budget 14. SPLOST PURCHASE OF FIRE EQUIPMENT

Regular Meeting Lamar County Board of Commissioners Page 1 of 2

i. SPLOST Purchase of Equipment for New Fire Truck 15. 2022 Legislative Leadership Voting Delegate

i. 2022 VOTING DELEGATE

Local Law Inforcement Preparedness for School Protection

Local law enforcement from Upson County Sheriffs Office and the Thomaston Police Department jointly participated in some great active shooter training this week at Upson Lee High School.  Special thanks to the  Thomaston-Upson School System for allowing us to train in the school.   UCSO and TPD have a great group of law enforcement professionals that work excellent together and train together to be better prepared to serve and protect our kids and community.  Thanks to all who participated.

Agenda Board of Commissioners of Spalding County

Extraordinary Session July 18, 2022

6:00 PM

Room 108, Annex Building

 I.                   PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS

1.          Consider presentation of Courthouse portrait for recognition of Tim Crane's retirement from the Public Works Department after 27 years of service.

2.          Consider a Proclamation recognizing the Lewis and Mary Stinson Family Reunion scheduled for July 29-31, 2022.

II.               PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.          Consider approval of financial statements for the twelve months ended June 30, 2022.

III.           CITIZEN COMMENT

Speakers must sign up prior to the meeting and provide their names, addresses and the topic they wish to discuss.Speakers must direct your remarks to the Board and not to individual Commissioners or to the audience. Personaldisagreements with individual Commissioners or County employees are not a matter of public concern and personalattacks will not be tolerated. The Chairman has the right to limit your comments in the interest of disposing of the County's business in an efficient and respectable manner.

 

Speakers will be allotted three minutes to speak on their chosen topics as they relate to matters pertinent to the jurisdictionof the Board of the Commissioners. No questions will be asked by any of the commissioners during citizen comments. Outbursts from the audience will not be tolerated. Common courtesy and civility are expected at all times during the meeting. No speaker will be permitted to speak more than three minutes or more than once, unless the Board votes to suspend this rule.

IV.            MINUTES -

1.          Consider approval of Minutes for the Spalding County Board of Commissioners Extraordinary Session on June 20, 2022, and the Spalding County Board of Commissioners Special Called Meeting and Zoning Public Hearing on June 23, 2022.

V.                CONSENTAGENDA  -

1.          Consider on second and final reading an amendment to the Spalding County Code of Ordinances, Division I - Laws of Local Application, Part II - Governing Administration - Chapter 12 - Code of Ethics; repealing conflictingordinances and parts thereof; and, restating the code as modified by this Ordinance.

VI.            OLD BUSINESS -

1.          Consider acceptance of a Resolution recognizing Juneteenth as a Holiday for Spalding County Employees and providing an additional day of discretionary pay for those employees for the 2022 Juneteenth holiday.

VII.        NEW BUSINESS -

1.          Consider request for amplification from Iris Hernandez to host a birthday party at 2160 Rocky Creek Road, Hampton, Georgia on August 13, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

2.          Consider request for amplification from Jeanette Steen for a wedding to be held at the Meadowlark 1939 Event Center located at 2613 Newnan Road, Griffin, Georgia on July 30, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

3.         Consider request from the Spalding County Parks and Leisure Services Advisory Commission to allow theSpalding County Pickleball Association to file for and obtain an permit to serve alcohol during the APP Pickleball Tour scheduled for September 7th - 11th, 2022.

4.          Shawn Fleet with Heath & Lineback, would like to update the Board of Commissioners on the SR155 redirecting project from Downtown Griffin.

5.          The Blue Cypress team will update the Board on the Comprehensive Plan and request permission to move the plan forward with a transmittal letter to Three Rivers Regional Commission.

6.          Hadley and Associates team will update the Board on the Capital Improvements Element to prepare fortransmittal of the plan.

7.          Consider a Resolution naming Shondrell Sinkfield as the Open Records Officer for Spalding County.

8.          Consider appointment of a 2023 ACCG Legislative Coordinator to represent Spalding County.

9.          Consider request from Three Rivers Regional Commission Council on Aging to renew the contract for servicesto Spalding County residents.

10.       Consider request from the Griffin Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office to renew the contract for Indigent Defense Services for the Spalding County Superior Court.

11.       Consider request from Community Development to enter into a contract with CivicPlus for their CivicGovsoftware for Permitting, Planning, Licensing, Code Enforcement and Fire Life Safety Inspection.

12.     Consider recommendation from the Parks and Leisure Services Advisory Commission to approve the Motorcoach policy with wage increase for drivers.

13.      Consider on first reading an amendment to a Resolution amending the Code of Ordinances of SpaldingCounty, Division I - Laws of Local Application, Part II - Governing Administration - Chapter 2 - Elections; Section 2.1 - Board Established; districts.

14.      Directing Staff 45-days to work with the City of Griffin staff toward the completion of SDS and LOSTRenegotiation with frequent updates to the Board.

Zebulon VA Clinic Opens Monday

The VA Clinic in Zebulon will see its first patients on Monday, July 18, 2022.

Gregory Kendall from VA Decatur advised that the VA Clinic in Zebulon will be doing a soft opening beginning on Monday. The first patient will be seen at 10 a.m. and the clinic will begin accepting new patients on Monday the 18th as well.

Kendall advised that the clinic will gradually build up the number of clients that it sees with a grand opening being projected for some time in September.

Services offered at the Zebulon Clinic when it is running at full capacity will include the following: mental health, primary care, and special care, individual, group, and mental health intensive care, substance use treatment, women’s wellness, cardio, pulmonology, and radiology along witth the ability to take a stress test here as needed, acupuncture, chiropractic care, audiology, and podiatry.

Physical and occupational therapy will be offered and a sleep tech will work from the facility to adjust sleep equipment as needed. And an optometry tech will work from Zebulon and Tele-Eye Care will be utilized for veteran care.

Tele-derm services will be a part of the Dermatology services offered. Labs, x-rays, and CT will be offered at this facility. Home Based Primary Care will also travel to see patients as home in our area, and Community Care will be a part of this program as well.

The facility will be offering these services for veterans tied to the Decatur VA Hospital. 6 PACT Teams (patient aligned care teams) will be working out of the Zebulon Clinic.

Windy Proffitt will be the Primary Care Nurse Manager with Jim Totten as her assistant.

City Manager's Life Threatened

Forsyth police and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office are investigating a threatening letter that was addressed to a city employee.

According to city officials, on Wednesday Police Chief Eddie Harris delivered a letter he got in the mail to the City Manager.

The letter threatened the City Manager's life if she didn't "leave Chief Harris alone and let him do his job."

Chief Harris filed a report with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. The City Manager also contacted the sheriff's office.

Multiple agencies are investigating this incident, and a reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.

Anyone with information can call investigators at 478-994-7043.

Two Arrested by Monroe County Sheriff’s Office

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies recovered a stolen vehicle this afternoon, July 14, 2022, that was reported stolen out of Bibb County. The BOLO was passed on to Monroe County this morning by Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

The vehicle, a red Mercedes C300, was spotted on Hwy 41, south of Rumble Road by Monroe County Deputies. Deputies initiated a stop and pulled the vehicle over with no incident.

The driver Winfred Felts and the passenger Tiffany Beasley both of Macon, GA were taken into custody and transported to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Felts is facing charges of Theft and Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act (VGCSA). Beasley is facing Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act (VGCSA). 

Thomaston-Upson Co. Dixie Youth

The Thomaston-Upson Co. Dixie Youth All Stars are playing in the Dixie Youth State Tournament in Donaldsonville. 

Thursday, Thomaston Upson Co. loss to Crawford Co. 13-0. 

Thomaston-Upson Co. playing Lamar Co. Friday morning @ 11:00 AM.

New Chamber President

The Board of Directors of the Thomaston-Upson Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Madison Busbee has accepted the position of Chamber President. 

An exhaustive search was conducted to fill the vacant position and Madison was selected. Madison is a native of Upson County and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in mass media communication from Valdosta State University. She currently serves as Communications Director and Director of Children’s Ministry for Providence United Methodist Church in Fayetteville. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council. Madison will begin work at the Chamber on August 1st.

Police Chase Ends In Wreck

On Wednesday, at approximately 2:32 pm, a Monroe County Deputy observed a vehicle commit multiple traffic violations on Interstate 75 northbound near mile marker 191. The Deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a 2021 Chevy Malibu bearing a South Carolina license plate. The Malibu did not stop, and a pursuit began that continued into Butts County. The pursuit ended when the vehicle struck another vehicle and wrecked on Interstate 75 northbound near mile marker 200 in Butts County.

The driver was identified as Demonte Jamahl Smith and the passenger was identified as Demerian Mikhail Humphrey-Shaw both of Decatur, Georgia. Smith and Humphrey-Shaw were taken into custody by Deputies and transported to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

Smith has two active warrants (Stalking and Probation Violation) and was driving on a suspended license, he is facing charges of Possession with Intent (Marijuana), Possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and multiple traffic violations. 

Humphrey-Shaw is facing charges of Possession with Intent (Marijuana).                                             

Thomaston-Upson School Board Meeting

The Thomaston-Upson School Board voted 5-1 to approve a tentative mill rate of 14.01 mills. Board member Sheila Hall cast the only vote against the motion. Member Brian Salter was absent from the meeting. 

This is an increase of 0.8 mill over the current 13.21 mill rate and 1.791 mills over the computed rollback rate of 12.219 mills. The rate increase is proposed due to a state law which requires a school district to maintain a millage rate or an equivalent millage rate of 14 mills to qualify for Georgia's equalization grant funds, which equated to $4.1 million in funds for Thomaston-Upson Schools in FY23. The proposed 14.01 mill rate will protect equalization funding, which, at $4.1 million, equates to 5.32 mills of tax at the current 1 mill rate of $768,495. 

Public hearings on this tax increase will be held at the Board of Education Office, 205 Civic Center Drive on August 1, 2022, at 7:30 AM and 6:00 PM and on August 9, 2022, at 6:00 PM. This information about the proposed millage increase and 5-year history of levy can be found on the TU Schools website at www.upson.k12.ga.us.

Jim Pruett addressed the board regarding the old trophies from previous city and county schools that are stored at the Upson-Lee Alternative School. Pruett, Jim Fowler, and Steve Ellerbee volunteered their time to clean and repair these trophies. 

The original plan was to offer the trophies free of charge to community members, but the public expressed an interest in keeping the trophies together and preserving the history of these previous students' and schools' accomplishments. 

Pruett stated that the Thomaston-Upson Archives has agreed to accept these trophies, but they needed BOE permission to release the trophies to the archives. Board members granted that permission and thanked Pruett, Fowler, and Ellerbee for their continued help with this project. Pruett, Fowler, and Ellerbee will be working with the archives to find a suitable place to display the trophies.

Upson Superior Court Guilty Pleas

JULY 13, 2022  -  JUDGE BEN J. MILLER 

LAMONT C. CALLOWAY CT. 1: POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE: 10 YEARS, SERVE 3 YEARS, FOLLOWED BY 7 YEARS ON PROBATION; $1,500 FINE; 80 HOURS COMMUNITY SERVICE; BANISHMENT FROM UPSON, PIKE, AND FAYETTE COUNTY.

Griffin Board of Commissioners Meeting

Griffin city manager Jessica O'Conner told the board that as of this week, people riding in golf carts on Griffin streets were going to be looked at more carefully than in the past. Using golf carts to get around in the city has become popular, but the city will be enforcing laws and checking the carts for up to date yearly permit stickers that must be purchased from the city at $7.50 per year. The carts must have insurance, and drivers must be 16 years or older and must obey rules of the street. The city has been very lenient in the past, but carts will now be checked more carefully and tickets may be issued.

Griffin received national recognition as being the only city in the US to win the 2021 George Ames Pisces award for storm water system improvements. Brice Martin accepted the award for city.

The city voted 7-0 to purchase 7 new police interceptor vehicles for $2356,000 from Brannen Motors.

The board also approved a 12 month sewer monitoring program with RTC Solutions for $385,683.00 and declared a moratorium for adding on any additional sewer connections to the Shoal Creek sewer service area. Vote was 7-0.

It was announced that the city electric dept has just finished putting up or repairing 200 city street lights.